Personal Trainer Resume Example (Also With No Experience)

You're about to see a pitch-perfect personal trainer resume. But first, here's a thought—

You're fit. Your certified. You can crush a walnut in the crook of your elbow. You're a personal trainer and you're ready to work.

Better still, your field grew by 13% by 2022, and didn't stop there. You could tattoo your fitness resume on your sculpted left glute and get the job.

Not so fast. Unless you're Ronda Rousey, getting a good personal trainer job takes work. You know, a job with flexible hours and full medical and dental.

For that job, you'll need a resume with the power of Arnold and the grace of Peggy Fleming.

This guide will show you:

• A personal trainer resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a personal trainer resume that lands more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a personal training resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for a personal trainer to get any job you want.

Here's a sample resume for a personal trainer made using our resume builder.  

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

Use this resume template

Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume samples here.

Looking for other jobs in wellbeing and healthcare too? You might want to have a look at one of our other guides:

• Caregiver Resume
• Dietary Aide Resume
• Yoga Teacher Resume
• Physical Therapy Resume
• Physical Therapy Aide Resume
• Health Coach Resume
• Massage Therapist Resume
• Esthetician Resume
• Cosmetlogy Resume
• Lifeguard Resume
• Athlete Resume
• Coaching Resume
• Basketball Coach Resume
• Life Coach Resume
• Professional Resume Samples

Here's how to write a personal trainer resume:

1

Format Your Personal Trainer Resume Correctly

Nightmare time.

You've got the skills. You've got the certifications. You're so good you could turn Chief Wiggum into Michael Phelps.

The bad news? The gym owner just zapped your personal trainer resume. Why?

She didn't read it. It was too jumbled, with too many words. It looked like the "before" photo in a weight loss ad.

Don't let this happen to you.

Pick a well-respected resume format like the reverse-chronological layout. It puts your best muscle up front.

Use clear, simple fonts, big headings, and white space to give the eyes some recovery time.

Finally, save it as a PDF. Personal trainer resume PDFs look beautiful on any machine. MS Word resumes can go to fat the minute they get emailed.

Pro Tip: Infrequently, job offers will reject personal training resume PDFs. Check the offer before you send your resume.

Want to test drive other formats for a resume for personal trainers? See our guide: "3 Resume Formats: How to Choose the Best One [Examples]"

Meet the gym owner, Sharon.

She's great to work for. She's got a profit sharing plan, free food for the staff, and even an on-site kindergarten.

One thing she doesn't have? Time to read 300 personal trainer resumes.

How can you stand out and show her your impressive skills?

Get her attention like Kayla Itsines, with a resume summary or a resume objective.

A resume summary is an overview of your personal trainer experience. Use it if you've got weight-rooms-full.

A resume objective works without experience. It highlights drive and focus.

Let's look at those one at a time.

Fitness Resume Summary Example

That personal trainer resume summary isn't exactly in couch potato land, but it won't win any marathons, either.

But look what happens when we add a few details:

Wow, who unleashed Conor McGregor on that resume, right? But all it took was some measurable achievements.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

Create my resume now

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

Is your experience the resume equivalent of a 98-pound weakling? Take heart. The resume objective is here to help.

How to Write a Resume Objective for a Personal Trainer With No Experience

The standard advice for those without experience is, "Show 'em your goal." If they know you want to be a personal trainer, they may hire you based on passion alone.

"May" doesn't sign paychecks.

Which one of these two candidates would you rather hire?

Personal Trainer Resume Objective Example

That's not awful, but it'll ultimately hit the wall like a marathon runner who forgot to carb-load.

Now check out the second of our entry-level personal trainer resume samples:

Nice. It's like a six-pack in a sea of beer bellies. The real secret? Both those fitness resume objectives were written by the same applicant.

In one case, she did a little freelance work for a friend and one paid client. In the other, not so much.

Pro Tip: Go short with your personal training resume objective or resume summary. It's just a hook, so save the full story for the body of your resume.

Want more help? See the personal trainer resume template at the top of this post. Also, check out our guides: How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See AND +20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them on Your Resume (Tips)

Let's get back to our gym owner, Sharon.

Right next to her copy of Ignite the Fire sit two piles of resumes.

The first pile is full of experience that matches what she's looking for. The second has a sticky note that says, "RECYCLE."

A resume that doesn't fit the job description like Prancercise pants is weak and flabby.

So, read the personal trainer job description first. Highlight all the skills, duties, and qualities.

Then put them in your personal training resume bullet points.

These two NASM personal trainer resume samples are for a job that values sales, creating programs, listening, and client satisfaction.

Personal Trainer Job Description for a Resume

There's no reason not to hire that applicant, except that the other one is so much better.

It's like choosing between Zach Galifianakis and Tom Brady for your local football team. Zach might be fun to hang around with, but Brady will get the job done.

But what if you don't have experience?

How to Write a Personal Trainer Resume With No Experience

Is your work history like a Minecraft enthusiast? Would it have trouble picking up a cooked spaghetti noodle?

If so, dig into your past to find experience you didn't know you had.

Still can't find it? Volunteer, or do some freelance work.

Check out these two beginner personal training resume examples.

Entry-Level Personal Trainer Resume Sample

That's the Arnold Horshack of experience sections. It sounds odd, and it won't pull its own weight.

This next sample of a resume for a personal trainer gets it done like LeBron.

That's what we call "well defined." The gym owner is reaching for the phone.

But how did a fitness trainer newbie get that kind of experience for a personal training resume?

She did a little volunteering and freelance work. The A1C client was her sister. She made the other fitness programs for freelance clients in a couple hours each.

Pro Tip: If you love fitness, chances are you've already done some free personal training for friends and family. Add it to your entry-level fitness resume.

Want more advice to bulk up your certified personal trainer resume? See our guide: "How to Put Achievements on a Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples)"

Education matters for a personal trainer. How you show it on your resume matters even more.

Your education section has to grab the hiring manager. Otherwise it's like having a Concept 2 rower in the basement, hidden behind boxes of old shoes.

Of course you'll list:

• School Name and Location.
• Years in School.
• Degree.

But too many education sections look like this:

Personal Trainers Resumes [Education]

That's as in-shape as Chunk from The Goonies. But add details that fit the job description, and suddenly you're Dwayne Johnson.

Look at our next personal trainer resume sample.

Nailed it. With a little thought, your fitness resume can prove you fit the job description like a squat suit.

We're not saying you need a degree in exercise science. The main idea is, pick your bullet points with care.

But if you're going after a degree, list it on your personal training resume. It shows added promise.

Pro Tip: Pick your most impressive achievements for your bullet points. If your GPA was 3.7 or higher, that qualifies, so show it.

Make your personal training resume stand out like Gisele Bündchen at a KFC. See this guide: "How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples]"

Let's look back in on Sharon, the gym owner.

There's her "You can Do It" coffee mug. There's her copy of Strong Curves.

The frown on her face comes from 250 personal trainer resume skills lists as long as her set of multi-colored exercise bands.

She doesn't want a million skills. Nor does she believe them when she sees them.

She just wants the ones she posted in the job offer. Oh, and she wants proof.

How can you provide that?

Highlight all the skills in the job posting.

List the ones she wants.

Then prove them in your personal training resume bullet points.

Like this:

The skills listed in the job description are creating nutritional plans, making workout programs, and client interaction.

So, you'll list those, plus a couple more.

Then you'll nail your bullet points like Steph Curry hitting a 3-pointer.

Fitness Instructor Resume Example Skills

Wow, right? Why don't we just add "blowing up the Death Star" and "vanquishing Lord Voldemort?" The Gym owner just rolled her eyes.

List of Skills to Put on a Personal Trainer Resume

Need a running start? Use this personal trainer resume skills list.

Then add to it from job offers online.

Personal Trainer Resume Skills

Follow the plan above, and your personal training resume will make you look like Muhammad Ali with a Fitbit.

Pro Tip: The skills you add to a resume for a personal trainer depend heavily on the type of work you will be doing. You may be able to raise the dead, but if the manager doesn't care about it, leave it off your skills list.

Need to put your skills section on a strength training program? Use the certified personal trainer resume template up top as your guide. Also, see this article: "+30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips)"

How important are certifications on a personal training resume?

Only as important as lungs for an aerobic workout. If you don't have at least one, you're not getting off the ground.

There are an embarrassment of choices when it comes to certs. You could go with any of the following:

• NASM CPT
• NCSA CSCS, CSPS, CPT, TSAC-F
• ACSM CPT, GEI, EP
• ACE CPT
• ISSA CPT, CES, FNC...

And so on.

Your certifications depend heavily on the kind of work you do, and who your clients are. Whichever certs you have, display them proudly on your personal training resume.

Put the one that matters most to the hiring manager right after your name.

Then list it in a special certifications section just beneath your summary, like this:

Certifications

• NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)
• AED/CPR and First Aid, American Red Cross

You can also put your key cert in your job descriptions. See the personal trainer resume template up top for help with placement.

Pro Tip: CPT and CPR/AED certifications are almost mandatory on a personal training resume. The CPT takes weeks or months. The CPR/AED cert takes just a few hours.

What else should you put on a resume for a personal trainer? Find out here: “What To Put On A Resume To Make It Perfect [Tips & Examples]”

True or false:

Your skills and education are the only thing that matter.

That's as wrong as trying to lose weight by eating funnel cake.

A well-rounded employee with passions and interests is worth ten others with the "right experience."

Add "other" sections to your personal training resume to show you're not just another flat stomach.

Personal Trainer Resume Sample "Other" Sections

Ouch. Who wants Peter Griffin training them?

Pro Tip: Do you find yourself listing a bunch of skills you don't have, just to fit in? If so, try a job offer that fits your skills better. You'll be happier when you get it.

Need more suggestions to give some extra protein to your professional personal trainer resume? See this guide: "+20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests To Put on a Resume (5 Tips)"

"Nobody will read your personal trainer cover letter."

That's the worst excuse since, "the cat ate my gymsuit."

About 40% of hiring managers still consider cover letters mandatory. So, get off the couch and write one.

Make it personal by calling the manager by name.

Make it passionate by mentioning a fact or two you like about the company.

Show how you can help with a glimpse of your achievements that fits the company's big challenges.

That's it! End with a call to action. That can be as simple as, "I'd love the opportunity to talk more with you about your goals."

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

Create my cover letter now

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Pro Tip: Don't be afraid to follow up. A personal trainer cover letter without a nudge a week later can slip from the manager's memory.

To write a solid cover letter for your fitness trainer resume, see this guide: "How To Write A Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples]"

Contact info's not as easy as you think.

Of course you'll add:

• Full Name
• Updated Phone Number
• Professional Email Address

Like this:

Karen Yakovich, [email protected] - 440-263-7459

"Professional" means no [email protected]. Nobody wants him toning up their abs.

Don't add your snail mail address unless the hiring manager asked for it.

Do add your LinkedIn profile. That'll let the manager see this fledgeling Jillian Michaels in her natural element.

Pro Tip: Don't let an electronic skeleton in your digital closet cheat you out of your dream job. See our guide to cleaning up your online presence here.

Need more advice to build the best fitness trainer resume you can? See our guide: "How to Make a Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide (+30 Examples)"

Even with personal trainer resume templates to work from, making your own can be a pain. Here's how to do it step by step:

• Start with the job offer. Highlight all the skills and responsibilities you see. Then prove you've got them in your personal training resume.
• Put a carefully crafted personal trainer resume summary or objective at the top.
• In the experience and education sections of your resume, add bullet points that fit the personal trainer job description like a spray-on tan.
• Add "other" sections that show depth and passion. That way your fitness resume is more than just a sheet of paper.

Do you have questions on how to write a great resume for a personal trainer? Not sure how to describe your skills or achievements? Give us a shout in the comments! We love to help!